Artificial larynx



E. I. M KE SSON I ARTIFICIAL: LARYNX.

Filed June 24, 1926 Patented Oct. 2, 1928.

UNITED v STATES PATIENT OFFICE.

mun 110mm, or 'romno, OHIO, assrcnoa To run VOCOPEONE oournzx,

or TOLEDO, 01110, a CORPORATION or OHIO.

urn-1on1. LABYNX.

'Lpp1l0at10n fled June 24, mt. semi No. 118,180.

This invention relates to conversion of air current energy into audible sounds.

This invention has utility when incorporated between the lun' s, as an air current I actuating pump, and t e mouth, as a supplemental vowel and consonant forming means for thereby larynx. In human ings loss of voice or disease of the larynx, as by cancer re air- 1 ing larynx-removal, leaves such indivi ual handicapped in the matter of talking. The device of this disclosure is to alleviate such condition not only to the extent of audible intelligible speech, but also co-operating for 1 tone and timbre.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of the inven'-, tion as adapted to an individual who has had the larynx removed and the trachea 2 iven an opening spaced from the mouth.

he device of th1s invention is shown as in a duct connection between such opening and themouth;

Fig. 2 is a detail view, with parts broken awa of the cap or valve connection for the trac ea outlet and intake;

Fig. 3 1s a section on the line IIIIII,

Fig. 4 is a. longitudinal section on an 30 enlarged scale of the artificial larynx proper;

Fig. 5 is a distributed perspective view of the diaphragm mounting and adjusting means of the artificial larynx;

Fig. 6 is a View looking intowthe diaphragm as mounted; and Fi 7 is a fragmentary side view of the diap ragm showing a distended ad uStment therefor.

Individual 1 is, shown as having trachea 2 terminating at (pening 3 in, the neck of such individual. over plate 4.- is provided for this opening 3, which cover plate includes a screen 5 for retarding intake flow 45 of impurities by openings 6,into chamber 7,

thence through openin mica check disk 9 impel ed against the check resistance ofspring 10 in the intake pump suction or air current flow action of the lungs of the individual 1 at inhalation. Thls spring IQ. is maintained in position by head 11 on stern 12 extending through the plate to provide collar button 13 as .a holding means for the plate in position as to the goducing an artificial s 8 as permitted by opening 3. The diaphragm or mica check disk 9,. as normally closing the openings 8, rests against partition 14 isolating chamber 7 from chamber 15.v This chamber 15 is in direct communication with the trachea 2 at its opening 3. From this chamber 15, as,

provlded with nipple 16, extends flexible duct 17 preferably along the body of the individual 1 for a distance to warm inhalation air by'bodily heat radiation, in which event the duct 17 may be under the a parel of the wearer. When the wearer esires to talk and use his. lungs for the air current/propulsion, the duct 17 is connected by ducts 18, 19, to nipple 20 in communication with resonant chamber .21.

Pz'aphmgm assembly.

The resonant chamber. 21 has adjustable I connection by means of threads with main externally threaded assembly nut 22. This nut 22 is also provided with internal threads 23 coacting with mutilated threads 24 of,

supplemental nut 25 having straight and diametrically arallel clamping ledges ,26 at its slot port1ons'27 for receiving thereon the ends of diaphragm 28 herein shown as a thin rubber sheet. The ends of this diaphragm sheet, as eng ed by the ledges 26, abut ledges 29 as held by prongs 30 providing therebetween slots 31 for registering with the threaded portions 24. of the supplemental nut 25. These pron s 30 are integral with sleeve 32, upon whic the nut 22 is freely rotatable in its coaction with the threads 24 for drawing the .led es 26 against the ledges 29 as the nut 22 a uts the sides of the ledges 29 toward the sleeve 32. This is, accordingly, an effective clamping means- 28 in its flat condition for the diaphra independently o placin such under tension. This maybe considere a clamping means assembling this diaphragm as normally flatdistended to hold such against further 001- la se.

' efore bringing this diaphragm 28 into the clamped position, there is inserted through the supplemental nut 25 and into the sleeve 32, in'n'er externally c. lindrical member 33 terminatingxin flare en 34 seating in flare seat in the nut 25.- This flare end 34 is provided diametrically with concave seats 36 held for registering with the diametrical position of the clamping means 26, 29, by way 37 in this member 33 coacting with spline 38 protruding from block 39 seated in opening 40 of the sleeve 32. The

taper of this duct 50 approximates that of the trumpet or of the flare of the Venturi' flow meter throat. The diaphragm 28, as now placed over the seats 36 and threaded through the openings 27 to have its terminals extend between the ledges 26, 29, of the clamping means, is in position for assembly by the operation of the clamping nut 22.

Diaphmgm adjustment. The sleeve 32 is herein shown as provided I with threads 41, say of left hand pitch,

, while the member 33 is shown as having for coacting respectivel held by the spline 38 from rotating relaat the higher tension edges 47 of this diatively to the sleeve 32. This means that there is positive propulsion of the member 33 axially as to the sleeve 32. When this propulsion is toward the diaphragm 28, the concave seats 36. thrust against the diaphragm 28 and thereby place the diaphragm under tension apart from the clamp mounting means at the ledges 26, 29. Accordingly, the nut 43 serves as a means for taking up slack or adjusting tension in the diaphragm 28 independently of varying the clearance of the diaphragm 28 as to flare regions 46 phragm 28. There are thus provided a pair of diametrically disposed segment openings 48 with the intervening diaphragm 28 tending more or less to concave form as to the arc of the cylinder, such concavity being away from throat 49 toward which the flare portions 46 extend as spaced by seats 36.

Resonance.

The adjustmentof the resonant chamber 21, as to the nut 22, varies the resonant chamber capacity for tonal and timbre quality, While from the throat 49 the gradually increasing diameter duct 50 is a further feature of amplifying value for these matters of sound quality. This duct 50 is in com munication with fitting 51 herein'shown as having externally threaded portion 52 as entering the nut 43. This assembly may be to such an extent as to have the fitting 51 in its coaction with the threads 45, abut the endof the member 33, and thus serve as a lock nut for the diaphragm adjustment. From this fitting 51, as a nipple, flexible duct extension 53 may, during the operation of this device, be placed in the mouth of the individual 1, preferably along the side of the mouth in order that the air current ma be delivered back of the lips 54 so that the 'or rate and that the apparatus is possible of tongue and lips may serve for the vowel and consonant forming operations in the production of intelligible audible speech.

The capacity of the resonant chamber 21 is a factor herein. Also, the velocity of air 7 current is a matter for modifying the frequency of vibration or pitch. The reater the velocity, the higher the pitch is in this device. Also, the length of the duct between the nipples 16, 20, modifies the pitch or frequency of vibration. While it is desirable that the distance between this artificial larynx and the mouth be a minimum, the length of the passage through the ducts 51, 53, to the mouth effects the volume and tone. It is, accordingly, seen there are factors herein which enable the user of this apparatus to depart over quite a range from a monotone due to the velocity disturbance adjustments to various individuals toward approximating the normal pitch of voice for such individual.

Temporary loss of voice as occurring frequently in children, say from diphtheria, may have the embarrassment thereof relieved by adapting this artificial larynx thereto.

What is claimed and it is desired to secure by United States Letters Patent is 1. An air current audible noise producer comprising a diaphragm mounting means providing-concave seats, and a diaphragm distended over said seats.

2. An air current audible noise producer comprising diaphragm clamping means, a pair of concave seats between said clamping means, and a diaphragm anchored by the clartnping means and distended between the sea s.

3. An air current audible noise producer comprising diaphragm clamping means, a pair of concave seats between said clamping means, a diaphragm anchored by the clamping means and means for adjusting the seats Dli lilo

toward and from the clamping means for varying the distension of the diaphragm.

4. ,An air current audible noise producer comprising a diaphragm, and a duct restricted adjacent the diaphragm to provide a throat, said 'duct throat having increasing internal diameter as extending away from the diaphragm in approximating Venturi meter throat flare proportion.

5'. An air current audible noise producer 12 comprising a diaphragm, and a duct having gradually increasing. internal diameter as distance from the diaphragm increases in approximating Venturi meter throat flare proportion.

6, An air current audible noise producer comprising a pair of tubular members providing a pair of diametrically spaced diay phragm clamping means, a sleeve therein terminating in a pair of seats beyond the 0 clamping means, means for longitudinally adjustin .the sleeve as to the pair of tubular'mem ers, and a lock for the adjusting means 7. An air current audible noise producer comprising a sleeve, a nut therein roviding a pair of diametrically disposed diaphragm clamping means, an interna ly tapered sleeve oppositely flaring and in said flare providmg means, said internally tapered sleeve having an external thread, and an internal doubly threaded nut having differential threaded engagement .With said sleeves.

In witness whereof I affix m' signature.

ELMER 1. MC ESSON.

a pair of seats beyond the clamping l0 

